Small RNA populations for two unrelated viruses exhibit different biases in strand polarity and proximity to terminal sequences in the insect host Homalodisca vitripennis

AbstractNext generation sequence analyses were used to assess virus-derived small RNA (vsRNA) profiles for Homalodisca coagulata virus-1 (HoCV-1), family Dicistroviridae, and Homalodisca vitripennis reovirus (HoVRV), family Reoviridae, from virus-infected H. vitripennis, the glassy-winged sharpshooter. The vsRNA reads were mapped against the monopartite genome of HoCV-1 and all 12 genome segments of HoVRV, and 21nt vsRNAs were most common. However, strikingly contrasting patterns for the HoCV-1 and HoVRV genomic RNAs were observed. The majority of HoCV-1 vsRNAs mapped to the genomic positive-strand RNA and, although minor hotspots were observed, vsRNAs mapped across the entire genomic RNA. In contrast, HoVRV vsRNAs mapped to both positive and negative-sense strands for all genome segments, but different genomic segments showed distinct hotspots. The HoVRV vsRNAs were more common for 5′ and 3′ regions of HoVRV regions of all segments. These data suggest that taxonomically different viruses in the same host offer different targets for RNA-antiviral defense

Adaptive memory-based single distribution resampling for particle filter

The restrictions that are related to using single distribution resampling for some specific computing devices’ memory gives developers several difficulties as a result of the increased effort and time needed for the development of a particle filter. Thus, one needs a new sequential resampling algorithm that is flexible enough to allow it to be used with various computing devices. Therefore, this paper formulated a new single distribution resampling called the adaptive memory size-based single distribution resampling (AMSSDR). This resampling method integrates traditional variation resampling and traditional resampling in one architecture. The algorithm changes the resampling algorithm using the memory in a computing device. This helps the developer formulate a particle filter without over considering the computing devices’ memory utilisation during the development of different particle filters. At the start of the operational process, it uses the AMSSDR selector to choose an appropriate resampling algorithm (for example, rounding copy resampling or systematic resampling), based on the current computing devices’ physical memory. If one chooses systematic resampling, the resampling will sample every particle for every cycle. On the other hand, if it chooses the rounding copy resampling, the resampling will sample more than one of each cycle’s particle. This illustrates that the method (AMSSDR) being proposed is capable of switching resampling algorithms based on various physical memory requirements. The aim of the authors is to extend this research in the future by applying their proposed method in various emerging applications such as real-time locator systems or medical applications

The Fourth Element: Characteristics, Modelling, and Electromagnetic Theory of the Memristor

In 2008, researchers at HP Labs published a paper in {\it Nature} reporting the realisation of a new basic circuit element that completes the missing link between charge and flux-linkage, which was postulated by Leon Chua in 1971. The HP memristor is based on a nanometer scale TiO$_2$ thin-film, containing a doped region and an undoped region. Further to proposed applications of memristors in artificial biological systems and nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM), they also enable reconfigurable nanoelectronics. Moreover, memristors provide new paradigms in application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). A significant reduction in area with an unprecedented memory capacity and device density are the potential advantages of memristors for Integrated Circuits (ICs). This work reviews the memristor and provides mathematical and SPICE models for memristors. Insight into the memristor device is given via recalling the quasi-static expansion of Maxwell's equations. We also review Chua's arguments based on electromagnetic theory.Comment: 28 pages, 14 figures, Accepted as a regular paper - the Proceedings of Royal Society

Vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption spectra of nitrile ices for their identification on Pluto

Icy bodies, such as Pluto, are known to harbor simple and complex molecules. The recent New Horizons flyby of Pluto has revealed a complex surface composed of bright and dark ice surfaces, indicating a rich chemistry based on nitrogen (N2), methane (CH4), and carbon monoxide (CO). Nitrile (CN) containing molecules such as acetonitrile (CH3CN), propionitrile (CH3CH2CN), butyronitrile (CH3CH2CH2CN), and isobutyronitrile ((CH3)2CHCN) are some of the nitrile molecules that are known to be synthesized by radiative processing of such simple ices. Through the provision of a spectral atlas for such compounds we propose that such nitriles may be identified from the ALICE payload on board New Horizons</i

Pharmacognostic study of roots and aerial parts of less explored Heracleum candicans Wall. ex DC.from Betaab Valley, Pahalgam, Kashmir, India

Plant derived products have sparked considerable attention due to their versatile applications. The plants are among the richest bio-resource of drugs for traditional and modern medicines and leads for synthetic drug development and various pharmaceutical intermediates. Heracleum candicans Wall. ex DC. is reported as a medicinal herb of Apiaceae family. It is also known as White-leaf Hogweed and traditionally reported to be effective in various disease conditions like skin diseases, sunburn, and external tumours. The present work deals with the pharmacognostic evaluations of root and aerial parts of H. candicans. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis was carried out along with various physicochemical analysis, phytochemical screening as well as thin layer chromatography studies. Moreover, the presence of heavy toxic metals by ICP-OES method was also evaluated. The pharmacognostic studies of H. candicans showed the presence of prismatic calcium oxalate crystals, anomocytic stomata, reticulate and spiral xylem vessels along with lignified fibres with two types of covering trichomes. Preliminary phytochemical studies revealed the occurrence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, phytosterols, diterpenes, coumarins, cardiac glycosides, fats and oils. The estimation of various physicochemical constants could be beneficial in determining various quality control standards for crude drug. The findings from this study would be beneficial for the identification of H. candicans

Short-Baseline Neutrino Oscillations at a Neutrino Factory

Within the framework of three-neutrino and four-neutrino scenarios that can describe the results of the LSND experiment, we consider the capabilities of short baseline neutrino oscillation experiments at a neutrino factory. We find that, when short baseline (L \alt 100 km) neutrino factory measurements are used together with other accelerator-based oscillation results, the complete three-neutrino parameter space can best be determined by measuring the rate of $\nu_e \to \nu_\tau$ oscillations, and measuring CP violation with either $\nu_e \to \nu_\mu$ or $\nu_\mu \to \nu_\tau$ oscillations (including the corresponding antineutrino channels). With measurements of CP violation in both $\nu_e \to \nu_\mu$ and $\nu_\mu \to \nu_\tau$ it may be possible to distinguish between the three- and four-neutrino cases.Comment: 16 pages, Revtex (single-spaced), 8 postscript figures, uses epsf.st

Hybrid-state dynamics of dye molecules and surface plasmon polaritons under ultrastrong coupling regime

The achievement of an ultrastrong coupling regime between surface plasmon modes generated by gold conical pits arrays and excitons associated to squaraine dye is demonstrated. Numerical and experimental steady-state reflection measurements demonstrate a remarkable Rabi splitting of 860 meV, to date the largest reported value involving surface plasmon modes. Furthermore, the dynamics of the hybrid states under the ultrastrong coupling regime is investigated by transient absorption spectroscopy. The results show that the upper bands are too short-lived to be detected, while the lower bands have a relatively shorter lifetime with respect to the bleaching recovery of pure squaraine dye. This result contradicts the behaviour of systems in strong coupling regimes, suggesting a different photophysics between strong and ultrastrong coupled systems

Observation of the Smectic C -- Smectic I Critical Point

We report the first observation of the smectic C--smectic I (C--I) critical point by Xray diffraction studies on a binary system. This is in confirmity with the theoretical idea of Nelson and Halperin that coupling to the molecular tilt should induce hexatic order even in the C phase and as such both C and I (a tilted hexatic phase) should have the same symmetry. The results provide evidence in support of the recent theory of Defontaines and Prost proposing a new universality class for critical points in layered systems.Comment: 9 pages Latex and 5 postscript figures available from [email protected] on request, Phys.Rev.Lett. (in press